dakotarocker
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2021
Posts: 4
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Borax
Feb 21, 2021 16:21:06 GMT -5
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Post by dakotarocker on Feb 21, 2021 16:21:06 GMT -5
I am fairly new to rock tumbling, so when people talk about borax are they talking about borax soap or is that abbreviation for something else?
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Post by rmf on Feb 21, 2021 16:30:18 GMT -5
Borax is a naturally occurring mineral Sodium Borate (Na ₂B ₄O ₇•H ₂O). It is used in making borax soap it is not the same as Borax Soap. Borax can be purchased from a jewelry supply place like Rio Grande. Mined for years in Death Valley as in 20 mule Team Borax. History is chucked full of people hunting minerals.
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Post by Toad on Feb 21, 2021 16:45:36 GMT -5
I get mine at Walmart – in the form of 20 mule power
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Wooferhound
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Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Feb 21, 2021 17:00:26 GMT -5
It makes a great grass/weed Killer too mix 1 cup Borax to 1 gallon Water and spray on any Plants you don't like . . .
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dakotarocker
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2021
Posts: 4
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Borax
Feb 21, 2021 17:24:30 GMT -5
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Post by dakotarocker on Feb 21, 2021 17:24:30 GMT -5
Can anybody recommend how much to put in a 3 pound Tumblr with aluminum oxide?
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standles
spending too much on rocks
Well all I got was a rock ... Cool!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by standles on Feb 21, 2021 20:24:38 GMT -5
Can anybody recommend how much to put in a 3 pound Tumblr with aluminum oxide? 1 Tablespoon
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Post by fernwood on Feb 21, 2021 20:43:10 GMT -5
Some use a couple of Tablespoons with water in a 3 lb barrel as a cleaning agent between tumbling stages. Also, after final polish stage. length of time varies from an hour to 24 hours. Personal preference.
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Borax
Feb 22, 2021 9:36:36 GMT -5
Post by greig on Feb 22, 2021 9:36:36 GMT -5
I have used Borax, TSP, Dawn dish soap and lord knows what else to burnish. I always return to Ivory soap. Not saying the other stuff doesn't work, but Ivory has worked for me every time.
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Borax
Feb 22, 2021 17:36:00 GMT -5
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Post by Pat on Feb 22, 2021 17:36:00 GMT -5
It makes a great grass/weed Killer too mix 1 cup Borax to 1 gallon Water and spray on any Plants you don't like . . . Sounds delightful, so I was reading up on uses for Borax Article mentioned weed killer. That’s what we want. However, it also mentioned fertilizer. How can something be good for the soil, yet bad for the plants/weeds? Thanks.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Borax
Feb 22, 2021 17:59:33 GMT -5
Post by jamesp on Feb 22, 2021 17:59:33 GMT -5
It makes a great grass/weed Killer too mix 1 cup Borax to 1 gallon Water and spray on any Plants you don't like . . . Sounds delightful, so I was reading up on uses for Borax Article mentioned weed killer. That’s what we want. However, it also mentioned fertilizer. How can something be good for the soil, yet bad for the plants/weeds? Thanks. Here ya go Pat. Guessing Borax can be a source of Boron. But it must be administered in tiny amounts to plants or else it poisons them. "Boron (B) is a micronutrient critical to the growth and health of all crops. It is a component of plant cell walls and reproductive structures. It is a mobile nutrient within the soil, meaning it is prone to movement within the soil. Because it is required in small amounts, it is important to deliver B as evenly as possible across the field. Traditional fertilizer blends containing B struggle to achieve uniform nutrient distribution. Despite the need for this critical nutrient, B is the second most widespread micronutrient deficiency problem worldwide after zinc." Interesting that it is deficient world wide.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Borax
Feb 22, 2021 18:02:09 GMT -5
Post by jamesp on Feb 22, 2021 18:02:09 GMT -5
Can anybody recommend how much to put in a 3 pound Tumblr with aluminum oxide? Using Borax in a vibratory tumbler works well. I would not use it in a rotary tumbler. You mentioned 3 pounds, so I'll assume it is a rotary.
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Borax
Feb 22, 2021 18:58:26 GMT -5
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Post by Pat on Feb 22, 2021 18:58:26 GMT -5
jamesp. So if I want to kill weeds, I should spray them well, and go very light to nourish the soil. I think I will concentrate on the weeds. We get a lot of plants that want to take over the yard—-grass, spurge, sweet violets. Husband pulls one or two 5 gallon buckets of weeds every day, weather permitting. Thanks.
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Borax
Feb 22, 2021 20:42:16 GMT -5
Post by parfive on Feb 22, 2021 20:42:16 GMT -5
Borax in a vibratory tumbler works well. I would not use it in a rotary tumbler. Care to elaborate, James?
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pizzano
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Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Borax
Feb 22, 2021 21:26:18 GMT -5
Post by pizzano on Feb 22, 2021 21:26:18 GMT -5
Using Borax for burnishing, cleaning or both...........?
To the best of my knowledge, Borax originated from Boron California.........It may be mined in other locations, but Boron, CA is still the largest supplier of raw material.
I prefer to use it in a vibe as a cleaner during pre-polish and polishing stages....it may have some burnishing qualities as well.....James can elaborate on that aspect.....!
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Borax
Feb 23, 2021 1:05:35 GMT -5
Post by jamesp on Feb 23, 2021 1:05:35 GMT -5
Borax in a vibratory tumbler works well. I would not use it in a rotary tumbler. Care to elaborate, James? If I may paste the entire post parfive: Can anybody recommend how much to put in a 3 pound Tumblr with aluminum oxide? Using Borax in a vibratory tumbler works well. I would not use it in a rotary tumbler. You mentioned 3 pounds, so I'll assume it is a rotary. Answering the question "Can anybody recommend how much to put in a 3 pound Tumblr with aluminum oxide?" Burnishing or cleaning with Borax in a rotary makes good sense. Using Borax with aluminum oxide in a rotary seems an odd practice. If not please enlighten.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Borax
Feb 23, 2021 1:12:46 GMT -5
Post by jamesp on Feb 23, 2021 1:12:46 GMT -5
Using Borax for burnishing, cleaning or both...........? To the best of my knowledge, Borax originated from Boron California.........It may be mined in other locations, but Boron, CA is still the largest supplier of raw material. I prefer to use it in a vibe as a cleaner during pre-polish and polishing stages....it may have some burnishing qualities as well.....James can elaborate on that aspect.....!
I would use Borax in a vibe as well for a cleaner during pre-polish and polish. I have never burnished my tumbles so I can't answer that one. I suppose it should work fine for burnishing or cleaning in a rotary also. And at times I use it for a slurry in pre-polish and polish with aluminum oxide in a vibe.
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Post by stephan on Feb 23, 2021 1:51:44 GMT -5
It makes a great grass/weed Killer too mix 1 cup Borax to 1 gallon Water and spray on any Plants you don't like . . . Sounds delightful, so I was reading up on uses for Borax Article mentioned weed killer. That’s what we want. However, it also mentioned fertilizer. How can something be good for the soil, yet bad for the plants/weeds? Thanks. As is often the case, it’s the dose that makes the poison. Boron is needed as a trace mineral. Most of us living in CA have more than enough boron naturally occurring in the soil, though. It’s what gives many delicate plants the crispy brown edges on their leaves. Bay Area isn’t as bad as the Central Valley or inland SoCal. If you ever drive through the town of Boron, you’ll see plenty of streets named after familiar, borax-based cleaning products, such as “20 Mule Team Road.”
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Wooferhound
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Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Feb 23, 2021 6:01:46 GMT -5
Sounds delightful, so I was reading up on uses for Borax Article mentioned weed killer. That’s what we want. However, it also mentioned fertilizer. How can something be good for the soil, yet bad for the plants/weeds? Thanks. As is often the case, it’s the dose that makes the poison. Boron is needed as a trace mineral. Most of us living in CA have more than enough boron naturally occurring in the soil, though. It’s what gives many delicate plants the crispy brown edges on their leaves. Bay Area isn’t as bad as the Central Valley or inland SoCal. If you ever drive through the town of Boron, you’ll see plenty of streets named after familiar, borax-based cleaning products, such as “20 Mule Team Road.” I'm sure that borax is worse for plants when applied to the leaves than to the roots.
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Borax
Feb 23, 2021 8:56:14 GMT -5
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jamesp likes this
Post by stephan on Feb 23, 2021 8:56:14 GMT -5
The crispy leaves are from watering in general, whether foliage or through roots. The herbicide use listed above is a toxic dose for non-tolerant plants through either route
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dakotarocker
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2021
Posts: 4
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Borax
Feb 28, 2021 8:18:12 GMT -5
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Post by dakotarocker on Feb 28, 2021 8:18:12 GMT -5
So does anybody recommend putting borax in a 3lb tumblr to clean up rocks? If so, how much water and borax and do I put filler in?
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